Construction unit



April 6, 1943. E. P. BURKE CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed July 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l all IN VENT OR.

April 6, 1943. E. P. BURKE CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed July 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSTRUCTION UNIT Edmund P. Burke, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,144 s claims. (o1. 72115 This invention pertains to a structural unit, stud, or the like, which is characterized by very light weight, high strength and low cost, in which unit the metal has been distributed in such manner as to afford great rigidity on all axes. The units of this invention are fabricated from easily rolled or formed shapes and the anges, lips and other elements thereof are caused to cooperate with each other in producing a finished stud or unit of great utility.

Generally stated, the invention relates to a fabricated construction unit made of parallel angle irons, such angle irons having legs at right angles to each other, the instanding legs of such pair lying in substantially the same plane, such instanding legs being furthermore provided with inwardly extending lips. An open web member is firmly attached to such instanding legs, the web connecting the two angle irons in parallel spaced relation so as to form a completed construction unit. In an elaborated form of the invention, such units are provided with telescopically interlocked extension members similar in general structure to the main construction unit, such telescoping extension members being adjustably positionable longitudinally of the unit but not readily removable therefrom.

The structural units of this invention may be used in the construction of walls, partitions, arches, ceilings and other structures and when an interlocking extension member is used therewith the units readily accommodate themselves to a variety of uses in a variety of situations without the necessity of specially preparing them for each situation.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to disclose and provide a readily fabricated, strong and stable construction unit.

A further object is to disclose and provide a construction unit or stud including sections or portions which distribute the total metal in such manner as to impart great rigidity and stability to the completed unit.

A still further object is to disclose and provide a combination of elements and a method of cornbining them whereby construction units which are light in weight and have a high strength are readily obtained.

These and other objects, advantages, uses, adaptations and modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain illustrative forms of the invention, reference being had, for purposes of facilitating understanding, to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a construction unit and an extension member in interlocked relation.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal transverse section taken through the unit and extension member shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately along the plane III-III of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are tranverse sections of portions only of modified forms of this invention.

Fig. '7 is a side View of a portion of a construction unit made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken along the plane VIII-VIII of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the plane IX-IX of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View showing a method of using the construction units of this invention in partitions, walls, etc.

In Fig. 1 the main construction unit is generally indicated at l whereas an outer, telescopically interlocked extension is indicated at 2. The main construction unit I comprises a pair of opposing angle irons 3 and 4, each of said angle irons including a pair of legs at right angles to each other. Instanding legs are indicated at 5 and 6, such instanding legs being coplanar, since they lie in substantially the same plane. The outer legs are indicated at l and 8. y

It will be noted that in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each of the legs of each of the angles 3 and 4 is provided with an inwardly extending lip at the edge of the legs. For example, the legs 5 and l of the angle iron 3 are provided with lips 9 and I0 respectively.

These two angle irons 3 and Ll are maintained in parallel spaced relation by means of an open web member. This web member may assume a variety of forms. In the drawings, such web member comprises a round piece of metal or rod Il bent into zig-zag form having apex portions such as the portion l2. The apex portions of this open Web member are then rmly attached to the coplanar legs 5 and '6 in a suitable manner, preferably by electrical forging, or welding. In this manner the `web member is forced into the inwardly extending lip S and welded thereto.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the member I l extends into the lip 9. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the member Il is not only welded to the lip 9 but actually partially extends into such lip, the lip then forming shoulders in engagement with the sides of the member Il, thus preventing longitudinal displacement of the member with respect to the lip 9 or the angle iron 3. When electrical forging is employed, the edge of lip 9 acts as a localized contact which facilitates the formation of a mechanical as well as welded joint or connection.

The apex portions I2 of the open web member preferably extend past the lip 9 and contact with the leg 5, thereby further stiiening the resulting structure. In the form shown, longitudinally extending, inwardly directed grooves I3 and I4 are formed in the angle iron 3, similar grooves I5 and I being formed in the angle iron 4. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the apex portion I2 contacts with the bead on the internal surface of the leg 5, ythis bead corresponding to and being produced by the groove I3. In the preferred forms of construction, the apex portions I2 are welded or attached to the legs 5 or beads I3, thereby resulting in a substantially triangular connection of the web member with the legs '5 in the region of each apex.

A completed structural unit, therefore, comprises the'two parallel angle irons 3 and 4, each of the angle irons having the inwardly extending lip 9 carried by the coplanar legs, such coplanar legs being 4held in spaced parallel relation and in substantially the same plane by means of an open web member nrmly attached thereto as by welding.

In order to obviate the necessity of cutting the structural `fabricated units described herein to .precise lengths tting the job under construction, I have provided extension members which are telescopically interlocked with the construction units and which are adjustably positionable thereon. A length vof such extension member is indicated at 2 in Fig. l and it will be noted that suchextension unit comprises opposing angle irons 23 and 24 having llanges 25 and 23 respectively, such flanges having inwardly extend- Ainglips 29, suchangle irons 23 and 24 being then Yheld in parallel spaced relation by means of an open web member Awelded to and interlocked with the coplanar flanges 25 and 25, such coplanar vflanges paralleling but spaced from the legs!) and-6 of the main unit I.

The other two Vflanges of the two angle irons 23 and 24, namely, flanges 3| and 32, slidably engage the legs 'I and 8 respectively of the angle irons 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 2, these flanges 3| and 32 are provided with inwardly extending lips 33 and 34 which completely enclose the legs -1 and'B and thereby maintain the extension member f2 in longitudinally movable but transversely irremovable relation to the main construction unit I.

In actual use'the extension member 2 may be slidably moved beyond the yend of the main construction unit I until a desired length or position is attained, whereupon the extension member -2 is `firmly positioned upon the main unit in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of .wire wrapped around the extension member and main vunit I, by wire wrapped around opposing portions of web members, by welding, or by the application of deforming pressure along a plane such as indicated at aS-.r in Fig. 2, the deformation of the metal at opposing points causing the two members to become firmly and irremovably connected.

In'the modification shown in Fig. 4 the lip of the angle iron 23 of the extension member is lengthened as shown at 33', such lip being then provided with an inwardly extending edge adapted to engage `the groove I3 of the coplanar leg member may include angle irons having a flange and a shorter ange 36, such shorter flange being provided with an inwardly extending lip adapted to engage the groove I4 of the angle iron 3. Fig. 6 illustrates a simpler form of construction, the angle iron 3 being free from longitudinal grooves, the outer movable angle iron 23 being provided with a lip 33 adapted to slidably engage the outer surface of the coplanar leg 5 of the angle iron 3.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 a modified form of construction unit is shown in that the open web member here indicated at 4| is of zig-zag form and comprises a die cut and pressed member having apex portions generally indicated at 42, such apex portions being bent or deformed so as to grip the inwardly extending lips 43 of the coplanar legs 44 of the opposing angle irons 3 and 4. 'I'he intervening strut portions 45 and 45' of such zigzag member 4| are preferably deformed into substantially channel shape, as shown in Fig. 9.

When the apex portions 42 of such zig-Zag mem- 5 of the angle -iron 3. In Fig. 5 the extension 75 berl4| are interlocked with the upwardly extending lips 43, theymay also be spot-welded to the coplanar legs 44 at points 43 and 46 so as to permit the unit to be cut transversely through an apex without loosening the web member.

Although the extension members 2 illustrated in the drawings are slidable on the exterior surfaces o'f the main units I, they may be similarly telescopically interlocked and be caused to fit within the main units I. When, however, the extension members 2 are slightly larger than the main units I, then such extension members may be used toadvantage as runners into which the main units may be set when a wall or partition is to be constructed. For example, as shown 'in Fig. l0, an extension member 2 is shown lying flat upon the ground. The lip 33 of such extension unit 2 may then be bent outwardly as indicated at 41 so as to receive the angle iron 3' of the main unit, the bottom of the main unit being thus firmly and positively positioned and held by the runner 2. The upper ends of the main units are generally connected to the wire mesh, furring strips, and other soit fittings.

It will be noted that the preferred type of members such as those shown in Fig. e, approach a curvilinear or tubular section and thereby have great rigidity and strength. The construction herein described is capable of supporting a high axial load in pounds per square inch of crosssectional area, while having great unsupported lengths, as compared with any of the shapes now in use other than tubular.

Although a number of modifications have been specifically given hereinabove for exemplary purposes, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and all changes andmodications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. A fabricated construction unit comprising a pair of parallel angle irons in opposing relation, the instanding leg of one angle being coplanar with the instanding leg of the other angle, the coplanar leg of each angle being provided with an integral inwardly extending lip, and an open web member welded to said coplanar legs and interlocked with said lips to connect said angle irons in spaced parallel relation; and an extension member adjustably carried by said unit, said extension member being telescopically interlocked therewith, said extension member comprising a pair of opposing angle irons, each having flanges at right angles to each other, one flange of each of said angle irons being in sliding engagement with a leg of each of the first-named angle irons, each of said flanges being provided with a lip adapted to engage said leg, the other ilanges lying in substantially the same plane, such plane being parallel to but spaced from the coplanar legs of said first-named angle irons, said other flanges being connected together by a web member.

2. A fabricated construction unit comprising a pair of parallel, spaced angle irons in opposing relation, the instanding leg of one angle being coplanar with the instanding leg of the other angle, and an open web member Welded to said coplanar legs to connect said angle irons in spaced, parallel relation; and an extension member adjustably carried by said unit, said extension member being telescopically interlocked therewith, said extension member comprising a pair of opposing angle irons, each having inwardly directed flanges at right angles to each other, one flange of each of said angle irons being in sliding engagement with a leg of each of the first-named angle irons, each of said flanges being provided with a lip adapted to engage said leg, the other flanges lying in substantially the same plane, such plane being parallel to but spaced from the coplanar legs of the first-named angle irons, said other flanges being connected together by a web member.

3. A fabricated construction unit comprising a pair of parallel, spaced angle irons in opposing relation, the instanding leg of one angle being coplanar with the instanding leg of the other angle, the coplanar leg of each angle iron being provided with a longitudinally extending groove and an integral, inwardly extending lip at the edge of such leg; and a continuous zigzag member connecting said angle irons in spaced relation, apex portions of the zigzag member being Welded to the groove and to the lip of each coplanar leg.

4. A fabricated construction unit comprising a pair of parallel, spaced angle irons in opposing relation, the instanding leg of one angle being coplanar with the instanding leg of the other angle, the coplanar leg of each angle iron being provided with a longitudinally extending groove and an integral, inwardly extending lip at the edge of such leg; and an open web member connecting said iooplanar legs and welded to the lip and groove bf each coplanar leg to hold said angle irons in parallel, spaced relation.

5. A fabricated construction unit of the character described in claim 3, in Which each of the upstanding legs of the pair of parallel angle irons is provided with a longitudinally extending groove and an inwardly extending lip at the edge of such leg.

6. A fabricated construction unit of the character described in claim 4, in which each of the upstanding legs of the pair of parallel angle irons is provided with a longitudinally extending groove and an inwardly extending lip at the edge of such leg.

EDMUND P. BURKE. 

